Castle Point

Castle Point's population grew older in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion and housing tenure.

The population passed 88,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Castle Point increased by 1.6%, from just over 86,600 to 88,000.

The addition of about 1,400 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Castle Point was home to, on average, 14 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Castle Point

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Castle Point increased by four years, from 41 to 45 years.

This affluent area had a higher average age than Eastof England and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 3,500 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 15% of people in Castle Point are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Castle Point residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.3% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.2%, while the percentage of Castle Point residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Castle Point increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Castle Point

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 29% said they had no religion. An increase from 17% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Castle Point.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 30%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 69% of those who disclosed their religion in Castle Point said they were Christian, down from 82% in 2001. About 0.0% said they were Sikh, down from 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 8.2% to 7.7% between the last two censuses.

In Castle Point, 7.7% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In East the percentage was 7.8% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in Castle Point increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Castle Point at a faster rate than in Rochford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Castle Point).

In Castle Point, the proportion of private renting increased from 5.1% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Rochford increased from 4.9% to 8.5%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Castle Point fell from 5.6% to 5.4%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 88% to 83%.

Private renting in Castle Point increased by 5.8 percentage points

Percentage of households in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Castle Point residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 5.7% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (80%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 69% in 2001. The percentage of Castle Point residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23% to 15%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Castle Point decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Castle Point, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer homes with children

The percentage of households in Castle Point with children decreased from 29% to 27% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (60%) households had no children, compared with 59% in 2001. The percentage of households in Castle Point with only adult children living with their parents increased from 12% to 13%.

The proportion of households with children fell faster here than the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 29% in 2001 to 30% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Castle Point that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 9.3% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (53%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 58% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Castle Point increased from 24% to 27%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Castle Point, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.7% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (38%) households had a married couple, compared with 44% in 2001. The percentage of households in Castle Point, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 8.9%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Castle Point

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Castle Point.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 95% to 90%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 1.2% of people in Castle Point said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.9% in 2001. About 1.0% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.6% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.2% to 0.8% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Castle Point decreased by 1.3 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Castle Point residents that were unemployed increased from 2.4% to 3.5% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in two (51%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53% in 2001. The percentage of Castle Point residents that were self-employed increased from 9.9% to 11%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Castle Point increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in work hours

The percentage of employed people in Castle Point working less than 16 hours increased from 1.7% to 2.7% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in nine (12%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 15% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.9% in 2001 to 2.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Castle Point increased by 1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Castle Point, Eastof England and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Castle Point residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.0% to 1.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.9%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 0.9% in 2001 to 1.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Castle Point remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Castle Point by care, March 2001 and March 2011

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